To want to cry from constant migraines?

[britespark1]

Been suffering for around 2 years now since I turned 40. Came on out of the blue, ended up in A&E back then as the initial pain was horrendous, I couldn’t see, couldn’t walk. CAT scan showed an arachnoid cyst/large fluid filled space, nothing to worry about. Various meds tried, previously on Amitriptyline which worked great for a few months then randomly stopped just before Christmas and now I’m on Candesartan. Min dose of 8mg worked for a few weeks then stopped, so a week ago it was upped by my Dr to 16mg. Previously seen by an appallingly arrogant neurologist who begrudgingly arranged an MRI, again nothing on there to worry about and basically said he didn’t understand why I had been referred.

Half term has been hard work, this is the worst I’ve felt for ages and I feel like I’m constantly pretending to be ok. Rizatriptan not working (neither did Sumatriptan before that), Migraleve not working, dispersible aspirin taking the smallest edge off. 4Head stick and tiger balm help for a while. Been sat crying in the dark room that has made no difference either.

I’m back at the doctors Monday for blood tests so obviously I’ll be speaking to them then but for now a just feel so shit. Sorry for the essay

YANBU I understand the pain of migraines all too well, hence my username. Unfortunately crying makes mine far worse and I've been hospitalised due to the pain from crying while having a migraine.

Do you take any daily preventatives? If not it may be worth asking to be prescribed daily medication. I take Sandomigrain and Proprananol every day to prevent attacks and they manage to keep most at bay. Plus Imigran when I get an attack and Nurofen.

I find ironically at 45 my migraines are getting less frequent. I think I may be getting perimenopausal. My aunt had severe migraines (once she temporarily completely lost her sight while in the busy CBD in Sydney) that went away when she hit menopause. I heard that women often stop having migraines when they stop having their periods so I am hoping that happens to me too.

Thank you all so much for the replies - too many to individually reply to I’m afraid. I really appreciate everyone sharing that works for them. I am writing it all down! It is good to have some ideas to take to the Gp. I am already on daily preventatives (Candesartan) plus melts for any breakthrough migraines (Rizatriptan) but they just aren’t working. My eyes have been tested many times over the last two years, most recently in January and I have also been seen by the eye department at hospital and apart from a very very mild prescription, they are apparently fine.

I am so sorry to hear about how many people also suffer with them

Who read your MRI, OP... A&E docs? GP?

Ive been suffering extreme migraines for 27 years. Have tried every preventive and crisis medicine in the book. The longest any helped was candesartan but after 5 years it stopped working.

Where do you go to get your daith pierced?

Acupuncture totally changed my life. I had weekly migraines. Now I have none.

[quote britespark1]@bellac11 Sumatriptan makes me feel worse, spacey and weird, which is a shame as I know it helps others. The Rizatriptan I’ve recently been given instead just doesn’t seem to be doing anything at all.

I have got FeverFew tabs but as stupid as it now sounds, haven’t been taking them absolutely no legitimate reason why, just the chaos of life. I will make sure I get back on track with those as for a while I was feeling ok.[/quote]
Sumatriptan did the same to me to the point I would rather have the migraine. I don't think people realise how bad the disassociation can be for people.

Giving up caffeine has been the most effective thing that helped me. It didn't reduce the number BUT I can now use caffeine to combat them when I need to. A cup of real coffee will end them 75% of the time now which is amazing.

I started doing regular excercise and I've cut down on carbs hugely and don't touch sugar. I did this for other reasons but I get less migraines now.

Blue that's fantastic that those blockers have helped your daughter. They are incredibly hard to get access to on the NHS.

@TheVanguardSix it was the Neurologist who went over both the cat scan and then the mri a year later. He could not have been more dismissive towards me. Made me feel like a silly little girl.

Get into a migraine clinic (migraine Trust lists the regional centres)
It is trial and error and dd was advised try for three months to see.
Don't mix too many or you won't know what's working

What works for one may or may not work for you
Dd got some benefit from ajovy but now on a new med flunarazine

@cushioncovers
Oh I didn't realise the nerve blocking injections were hard to get on the NHS. My daughter must be lucky then but like I say, she simply cannot have the more usual meds, so no choice really. Seems unfair that some people cant get them though.